AGAJA

KUYO

BARUPE

WECHE DONGRUOK

MBAKA

NONRO

JEXJALUO  

NGECHE LUO

GI GWENG'

THUM

TEDO

LUO KITGI GI TIMBEGI

SIGENDNI LUO

THUOND WECHE

;

 
  
 

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.jaluo.com

PANIC AS WOMAN ASPIRANT ENTERS KISUMU TOWN EAST RACE

BY SHEM KOSSE,

KISUMU BASED FREELANCE JOURANALIST,

EMAIL:kosseeke@yahoo.com,

PHONE-0723103445/ O733380116

A woman with a wide range of wealthy experience in politics and a household name in the NGO world as ultimately announced her bid to vie for the Kisumu Town East parliamentary seat.

Grace Woigo who is a sociology degree holder from the prestigious Nairobi University is, a renowned Kisumu based social worker.

And she worked, not only with the Breast Feeding Association of Kenya but also Ministry of Culture and Social Services before joining Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), where, she was the project co-coordinator of Rural Domestic Water and Sanitation programme.

The project which was solely sponsored by the government of Netherlands, by then, was aimed at eradicating abject poverty and, to improve socio-economic status of Nyanza people through provision of clean drinking water, improved sanitary conditions among others.

To achieve its objective to the fullest, the project saw several wells and pit latrines being constructed.

The Project that was implemented in the 3 districts of Nyanza province – Kisumu, Migori and Homabay – also led to the sinking of a number of boreholes, in order, to achieve the projects objective further.

Under the twin programme of Rainfed Rice Project in Western Kenya which was donor funded and UNDP under internal Child Health – Family Planning Program (MCH-FP) women component, where she also worked, her concerns were geared towards women involvement.

And consequently, she established a revolving fund where hapless women group were given soft loans to start income generating activities. The funds were provided by donor countries.

Grace the NGO magnate and widely known for her creativity and development initiatives, later founded the vibrant Kenya Women Economic Network (KWEN) – a non governmental organization based in Kisumu, Western Kenya-registered under NGO secretariat as a national organization.

KWEN focuses on Gender and Development in general, with a lot of emphasis being laid on women and girls on the poor rural and urban areas, respectively.

As a tirelessly hard working woman, Grace, through KWEN, works with youth groups, Community Based Organizations (CBO’s), along side networking and collaborating with other NGO’s, government ministries, women groups and donor Agencies.

And also aid agencies concerned with promotion and improvement of quality of life for the grassroots women in both the rural and poor urban areas.

Exuding confidence, humerous Grace talking to this journalist, unfolded his mission and vision when she was to be elected to the National House, parliament.

She promised to facilitate development activities which will empower women; youth groups to enable them manage their own projects efficiently, and make enlightened and informed choices and decisions that would lead to realization of quality life for them and their families. For this will alleviate poverty, she focused.

On her mission, the resilient Grace said that she will work extremely hard with women groups and community based organizations (CBO’s) to promote sustainable development tailored towards eradicating poverty.

This mission is to be pursued: "through workshop training, seminars and participation efforts on the various activities in which all the groups are involved at all level" observed the charismatic Grace.

Her mission is also to create an autonomous and self reliance economy for women through the creation of awareness and empowerment, for them to courageously contribute and participate actively in issues related to women and development.

Grace who is also the chairperson of National Council of NGO’s vowed to change attitude in women fraternity that perceives them as passive observers than active participants in development matters.

It is worth noting that the widely traveled Grace, hence her international connections, conducted civic education on the prevalent constitutional review circus and the subsequent plebiscite exercise, referendum, in Kisumu Town East.

Relentless Grace also assisted in the establishment and management of various Institutions within the constituency.

Saleem ministries dealing with education and caring for orphans, Neema Health Centre and VCT Centre, Kenya Society of HIV medicine as a treasurer with Dr. Odawa as the chairman. And she is also a member of District Development Committee-Kisumu District and Nyanza Provincial Hospital.

Composed Grace who was talking to the press after her recent extensive visit to the United Kingdom, have a vast experience in public resource management thus her proven credentials and ability to champion change, practice mature politics and create an inspirational vision of the future, including strategies to realize her set goals.

Well known for her generosity and compassionate, coupled with the fact that she is the only woman who has voiced her bid for the seat and with a track record of development, is something largely seen as an added advantage.

To non starters Grace is not a novice in elective politics. She made her debut in 1997 and lost in the preliminaries due to was attributed to low voter turn out.

According to political pundits and the majority that were interviewed, averred that current politics needs somebody with experience in public management: ability to manage public funds, to accept humanity among others.

And that Grace Woigo fits the bill. Though, she needs a massive donor support, to scale the constituency to greater heights of development.

She will battle it out with the youthful lawyers Onyango Oloo, Geof Obura, Dr. Jim Agengo (Lecturer), international business magnate Noah Joseph Olwero among other low keyed aspirants to, unseat the incumbent besieged MP Erick Gor Sungu,who is bedeviled with alleged misuse of Constituency Development Funds(CDF) funds.

Akelo nyar Kager, jaluo@jaluo.com

INVEST with JALUO

WENDO MIWA PARO

OD PAKRUOK